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FUNERAL  SERMON 


THE  IMPORTANCE 


AND 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  TiaiE. 

PREACHED 
IN  ST.  PETER'S  CHURCH,  PHILADELPHIA, 

NOVEMBER    13,   1814, 
IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH  THE  DESIRE  EXPRESSED    BY  THE  LATE 

ANTHONY  FOTHERGiLL,  M.  D.  F.  R.  S.  &c. 

IN  HIS  LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT, 'AND  IN  PURSUANCE  OF  THE 
PROVISIONS  THEREIN  CONTAINED. 


BY  JAMES  ABERCROMBIE,  D.  D. 

Senior  jiaaiatant  Miniater  of  Chriat -Churchy  St.  Peter^s^  and 
\  St.  Jamea^a. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED  POR  THE  AUTHOR  BY  JAMES  MAXWELL. 

1814. 

J  -  - 


SERMON,  &c. 


I  must  work  the  works  of  him  who  sent  me,  while  it  is  day; 

The  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work. 

John  ix,  4. 


The  responsibility  of  man,  as  a  rational  and  moral 
agent,  to  his  omniscient  and  omnipotent  Creator,  is  a 
truth  dictated  by  Reason,  and  confirmed  by  Divine  Re- 
velation. 

The  "  distinguished  link  in  being's  endless  chain"* 
which  man  constitutes — the  endowment  of  his  mind 
with  those  three  high,  intellectual,  powers,  Will,  Me- 
mory, and  Understanding,  not  only  render  him  justly 
amenable  to  the  laws  of  God,  but  exhibit  him,  in  the 
order  of  creation,  as  holding  a  rank,  and  occupying  a 
station,  "  but  a  little  lower  than  the  angels."t 

This  appears  to  be  an  innate  principle,  and  con- 
viction of  the  human  mind;  as,  all  orders  of  men,  from 
the  untutored  savage  that  roams  the  wilderness,  "  whose 
soul  proud  Science  never  taught  to  stray, "J  to  the  refin- 
ed and  metaphysical  philosopher,  who  soars  above  the 
unlettered  throng,  and  vainly  thinks  to  comprehend  the 

*  Young.  t  Ps.  viii,  5.  \  Pop^ 


views  and  motives  of  Omniscience — all  arc  possessed 
of  a  sense  of  moral  rectitude  and  depravity,  of  right 
and  wrong,  of  virtue  and  of  vice;  and,  therefore,   are, 
or  ought  to  be,  influenced  by  the  expectation  of  merit- 
ed reward  or  punishment.    Hence  among  heathen  na- 
tions the  various  modes  of  propitiating  the  favour  of  the 
great  First  Cause,  and  of  deprecating  his  displeasure, 
by  copious  and  fragrant  offerings  of  fruits  and  flowers 
— by  streams  of  blood  from  immolated  victims — by 
clouds  of  incense    rolling  to  the  skies — by  voluntary 
acts  of  devotion  and  austerity — and,   even   by  death. 
"  1  hcse     having    not     the     written    law,"    says    an 
Holy  Apostle,   "  were  a  law  unto  themselves,  which 
shows  the  work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts,  their 
consciences  also  bearing  ^^'itness,   and  their  thoughts 
the  meanwhile  accusing  or  else  excusing  one  another."*' 
Hence,   Jews  and  Christians,  by   the  same  impulses, 
strengthened  and   confirmed   by   explicit   Revelations 
from  the  otherwise  unknown  God,  have  been  taught 
and  assured,  that  '*  verily  there  is  a  reward  for  the  right- 
eous, doubtless  there  is  a  God  who  judgcth  the  earth. "f 
This  conviction  of  responsibility,  associated  with 
a  similar  conviction  of  the  extreme  brevity  of  human 
life,  at  its  most  extended  period,  and  the  absolute  un- 
certainty of  the  attainment  of  that  period  by  any,  even 
the  most  robust  and  athletic  individual,  has  ever  stimu- 
lated che  prudent,  encouraged  the  pious,  and  animated 
and  impelled  the  timid,  "■  to  make  their  calling   and 
election  sure,"t  *'  ^o  ^v^alk  circumspectly,  not  as  fools, 
but  as  wise,  redeeming  the  time,'n  *'  to  work  out  their 

*  Rom.  u.  14,  15.     t  Ps.  Iviii.  11.     \  2  Pet.  i.  10.     ^  Ep.  v.  i.v 


salvation  with  fear  and  trembling, ''*  *'  to  stand  in  awe 
and  sin  not;  to  commune  with  their  own  hearts,"!  "  to 
work  while  it  is  day,  because  the  night  of  death  com- 
eth,"  (with  certainty  and  rapidity)  **  in  which  no  man 
can  work. "J 

Our  divine  Instructor,  Jesus  Christ,  whose  exam- 
ple and  familiar  converse  were  always  as  instructive  as 
his  positive  precepts,  in  walking  through  the  city  of 
Jerusalem,  saw  a  man  who  had  been  blind  from  his 
birth,  sitting  on  the  ground,  soliciting  alms  from  those 
who  passed  by.  The  singular  circumstance  of  his  be- 
ing bom  blind,  induced  his  disciples  to  ask  his  opinion 
with  respect  to  the  correctness  of  a  doctrine  which  pre- 
vailed among  the  Pharisees,  and  which  they  had  deriv- 
ed from  the  Egyptians;  that  men  were  punished  in  this 
world  for  sins  committed  in  a  preexistent  state,  by  the 
transmigration  or  return  of  their  souls  after  death  into 
maimed  or  diseased  bodies;  or,  that  the  crimes  of  parents 
were  thus  visited  upon  their  children.  "  Master,"  said 
they,  "  who  did  sin,  this  man  or  his  parents,  that  he 
was  born  blind?" §  Our  blessed  Saviour  very  promptly 
condemned  the  doctrine,  by  answering — "  Neither  hath 
this  man  sinned  nor  his  parents;  but  that  the  works  of 
God  should  be  made  manifest  in  him — I  must  work 
the  works  of  him  who  sent  me  while  it  is  day;  the  night 
cometh,  when  no  man  can  work."||  As  if  he  had  said — 
The  calamitous  condition  of  this  afflicted  man  does  not 
arise  from  previous  sins,  committed  either  by  himself  or 
his  parents;  but,  from  the  natural  operation  of  cause  and 
effect;  and  he  is  placed  here  by  the  providence  of  God, 

*  Phil.  ii.  12.  t  Ps.  iv.  4.  \  Jo.  ix.  4.         §  Jo.  ix.  2. 

)|  Jo.  ix.  3,  4,  5. 


in  order  that  I  may,  by  the  performance  of  a  miracle, 
give  an  additional  proof  of  the  truth  of  my  doctrine,  and 
of  the  authenticity  of  my  character.  And  though  it  is 
the  Sabbath-day,  yet,  to  teach  you  that  works  of  mercy 
are  not  prohibited  on  that  day,  and  that  natural  and  ex- 
ternal means  are  to  be  used  for  the  cure  of  diseases,  I 
will  make  a  clay  and  anoint  his  eyes  with  it.  And  he 
accordingly,  says  the  sacred  historian,  *'  spat  on  the 
ground,  and  made  clay  of  the  spittle,  and  anointed  the 
eyes  of  the  blind  man  with  die  clay;  and  said  unto  him, 
go,  wash  in  the  pool  of  Siloam;  and  he  went,  and 
washed,  and  received  sight."*  "  As  long  as  I  am  in  the 
world,"  said  Christ,  "  I  am  the  light  of  the  world. "t 

*'  Hence  we  learn,"  says  a  celebrated  commentator 
upon  this  passage,  **  that  our  Lord's  miracles  were  de- 
signed not  only  as  proofs  of  his  mission,  but  to  be  spe- 
cimens of  the  power  which  he  possessed  as  Messi- 
ah. For  example,  by  feeding  the  multitude  with  meat 
which  perished,  he  signified  that  he  was  come  to  quick- 
en and  nourish  mankind  with  the  bread  of  life,  that 
sovereign  cordial,  and  salutary  nutriment  of  the  soul. 
His  giving  sight  to  the  blind,  was  a  lively  emblem  ol 
the  efficacy  of  his  doctrine  to  illuminate  the  blinded 
understandings  of  men.  His  healing  their  bodies,  re- 
presented his  power  to  heal  their  souls,  and  was  a  spe 
cimen  of  his  authority  to  forgive  sin,  as  it  was  a  real, 
though  but  a  partial  removal  of  its  punishment.  Hi^ 
casting  out  devils,  was  an  earnest  of  his  final  victor} 
over  Satan,  and  all  his  associates.  His  raising  particu- 
lar persons  from  the  dead,  was  the  beginning  of  his 
triumphs  over  Death,  and  a  demonstration  of  his  abiJi 

*   Jo.  ix.  6,  7.  +   Jo.  ix.  5 


••7 

ty  to  accomplish  a  general  Resurrection.  And,  to  give 
no  more  examples,  his  curing  all  promiscuously  who 
applied  to  him,  showed  that  he  was  come,  not  to  con- 
demn the  world,  but  to  save  even  the  chief  of  sinners. 
Accordingly,  at  performing  these  miracles,  or  soon  af- 
ter, when  the  memory  of  them  was  fresh  in  the  minds 
of  his  hearers,  we  often  find  him  turning  his  discourse 
to  the  spiritual  things  that  were  signified  by  them,  as 
in  the  case  before  us."* 

But,  to  return  to  the  subject  immediately  suggest- 
ed by  our  text.  "  I  must  work,  &c."  that  is,  I  must 
embrace  every  opportunity  of  performing  my  duty, 
and  executing  the  object  of  my  mission  into  this  world; 
viz.  the  instruction  of  men  and  the  salvation  of  their 
souls — for,  my  time  is  but  short;  the  night  of  death 
is  fast  approaching,  which  puts  an  end  to  all  human  la- 
bours, and  precludes  the  possibility  of  all  future  ex- 
ertion; for,  there  can  be  "no  work,  nor  device,  nor 
knovWedge  in  the  grave,  "f 

By  this  memorable  declaration  of  our  Lord  we  are 
taught, 

1.  The  necessity  of  activity  and  diligence. 

2.  The  certainty  of  death,  the  impossibility  of 
repentance,  or  improvement  afterwards,  and  the  conse- 
quent high  importance  of  the  improvement  of  time. 

Each  of  these  heads  I  shall  now  briefly  discuss, 
and  conclude  with  a  practical  application  accommodated 
to  the  design  of  the  present  discourse. 

First  then, — Of  the  necessity  of  activity  and  dili- 
gence. 

*  Mackiught,  pp.  343.  Note.  t  Ec.  ix.  10. 


Can  a  being,  in  any  degree  capable  of  reflection, 
require  the  aid  of  argument,  the  influence  of  persua- 
sion, or  the  stimukis  of  remonstrance,  to  induce  him  to 
desire  and  endeavour  to  obtain  perfect  and  eternal  hap- 
piness, which  is  fully  set  before  him  and  solicits  his  ac- 
ceptance? Can  he  be  justly  termed  a  rational  being, 
who  would  estimate  the  imperfect  and  evanescent  ob- 
jects of  sensual  enjoyment,  of  worldly  honour,  interest, 
or  ambition,  above  the  refined,  sublime,  rapturous,  and 
permanent  delights  of  Heaven? — who  would  appreciate 
the  collision  of  human  interests,  the  depravity  of  hu- 
man passions,  the  glittering  empty  toys  of  time,  above 
the  harmonious  concord  of  angels,  the  seraphic  aspira- 
tions of  pure,  celestial  intelligences, — the  infinite,  inex- 
haustible, splendid  realities  of  Eternity — the  full  frui- 
tion of  the  Paradise  of  God?  Yet,  such  is  the  infatua- 
tion of  blind,  deluded,  hoodwinked  man,  that  he  mad- 
ly prefers  these  present  transitory  trifles,  to  future,  per- 
fect, and  permanent  blessings — the  shadow  to  the  sub- 
stance. 

"  Yet  man,  fool  man!  here  buries  all  his  thoughts, 
"  Inters  celestial  hopes  without  one  sigh! 
"  Here  pinions  all  his  wishes!" — .V.  T.  h.  I. 

The  cause  of  this  infatuated  conduct  originates  in 
tlie  corruption  of  human  nature.  We  see  and  know 
our  duty  and  our  true  interest,  yet  we  want  resolution 
to  pursue  them.  We  suffer  our  hearts  to  be  **  incrust- 
ed  by  the  world,"*  conscious  of  its  paralyzing  power, 
and  of  the  vigilance  and  exertions  diat  are  necessary 
to  destroy  or  counteract  its  deleterious  influence.  With 
the  holy  and  contrite  Apostle,  we  "  feel  a  law  in  our 

•  Young. 


members  warring  against  the  law  of  our  minds"  (Or 
conscience)  ''  and  bringing  us  into  captivity  to  the 
law  of  sin"*  and  of  death.  We  know  that  "  the  car- 
nal mind,"  with  its  depraved  aifections  and  lusts,  **  is  en- 
mity against  God"t — ^^'^^  ^^^  dictates  must  be  opposed, 
and  its  desires  restrained,  before  we  can  be  purified 
from  its  corruptions — that  we  must  resist  the  devil  be- 
fore he  will  flee  from  us — that  we  must  "  strive  to  enter 
in  at  the  straight  gate, "J  being  assured  by  the  Son  of 
God,  that  "  straight  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way 
that  leadeth  unto  life  eternal;"^  and  that,  with  all  our 
exertions,  and  all  the  spiritual  aid  which  is  offered  to  us 
by  the  Gospel,  in  conjunction  with  the  efficacy  of 
Christ's  atonement,  the  number  of  those  who  will  be 
found  worthy  of  admission,  will,  in  comparison  with 
the  mass  of  mankind  since  the  fall,  and  to  the  termina- 
tion of  this  world,  be  but  few;  for,  that  *'  many  will 
seek  to  enter  in  and  will  not'  be  able,"||  because  they 
will  seeky  or  desire  only,  with  feebleness  and  indecision; 
thereby  "renderingthe  cross  of  Christ,"  with  the  proffer- 
ed scriptural  assistanceof ''none  effect"^  to  their  salva- 
tion. The  heart,  with  its  most  ardent  affections  and  de- 
sires, must  be  given  to  God.  His  requisition  is  "  My 
son,  give  me  thy  heart"**  We  must  work  out,  as  well  as 
will,  our  salvation,  our  emancipation  from  the  manacles 
of  sin,  or  we  shall  most  assuredly  be  "  outlawed  from 
the  realms  of  heavenly  bliss. "tt 

Now,  brethren,  when  we  consider  tlie  possibility 
of  our  obtaining  eternal  salvation — of  being  admitted 

*  Rom.  vii.  23.  t  Rom.  viii.  7.  |  Luke  xiii,  24. 

§  Mat.  vii.  14.  II  Luke  xiii.  24.  •'  1  Cor.  i.  17 

**  Prov.  xxiii.  26.         ft  Milton. 

B 


10 

to  a  never  ending  association  with  angels  and  archan- 
gels, clierubim  and  seraphim,  and  "  all  the  innumerable 
sanctities  of  Heaven,"*  nay — to  the  beatific  presence  of 
the  omnipotent  Jehovah — the  triune  God,  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost — to  a  recognition  of,  and  reunion  with 
those  of  our  departed  relatives  and  friends,  who  have 
gone  before  us  to  the  realms  of  glory — or,  to  an  antici- 
pation of  that  glory  which  they  will  enjoy,  in  full  frui- 
tion, after  the  general  judgment. — When  the  magnitude 
and  wide  extent  of  these  sublime,  transporting  objects 
are  considered,  surely  the  most  unsleeping  vigilance 
aganist  the  wiles  and  temptations  of  the  devil,  the  world, 
and  the  flesh — the  most  strenuous  exertions  to  perfect 
holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord — the  most  anxious  care 
to  fulfil  all  our  religious,  social,  and  personal  duties — 
the  most  ardent  desires  to  obtain  all  that  celestial  aid 
which  is  offered  to  us  through  the  instituted  channels 
of  divine  grace,  to  strengthen  us  in  our  spiritual  \Aar- 
fare,  and  enable  us  to  go  on  "  conquering  and  to  con- 
quer"!— should  characterise  our  conduct,  and  influence 
our  hearts — because, 

2.  "  The  night  of  death  cometh,  in  which  no  man 
can  work. "J 

The  certainty  of  this  awfully  interesting  event,  and 
the  uncertainty  of  the  time  of  its  occurrence,  should  be 
habitually  present  to  our  miijds;  knowing,  that  in  that 
night  of  death,  no  repentance  of  past  negligence  can  be 
exercised — no  improvement  of  the  talents  committed 
to  us  can  be  eflected — no  consolation  and  aid  from  the 
established  means  of  salvation  can  be  embraced — for, 
the  day  of  grace,  the  period  of  probation,  beuig  termi- 

*  Young.  t  Hcv.  vi.  2.  t  Jo-  ix-  4 


11 

riated,  the  decision  of  Omniscience  and  Omnipotence 
upon  our  past  stewardship  will  be  immediate  ni  its  ef- 
fect— unavoidable — irrevocable.  Merciful  God!  how 
tremendously  interesting  a  moment  for  a  rational,  an  im- 
mortal soul! — an  instantaneous  transition  from  the  pri- 
son-house of  clay,  to  the  bar  of  infinite  purity,  infinite 
justice,  to  be  rewarded  or  punished,  according  to  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  the  thoughts,  words,  and  ac- 
tions of  this  our  probationary  state! — What  Sinner's 
heart  is  not  appalled  at  the  prospect  of  that  dread  scru- 
tiny? — What  true  Christian's  heart  is  not  exhilarated  by 
that  expecte##mancipation  from  the  toils,  the  troubles, 
the  anxieties,  the  vanities  of  human  life — from  the  de- 
lusions of  its  promises,  the  frivolity  of  its  pleasures,  the 
poignancy  of  its  pains!  And  consequently,  through 
how  very  different  a  medium  is  the  grave,  that  inevita- 
ble receptacle  of  mortality,  viewed  by  the  Worldling, 
and  the  Christian!  The  former,  through  the  dense  and 
fuliginous  atmosphere  of  human  passions  and  earthly 
affections,  contemplates  it  as  a  distant,  dark,  and  fathom- 
less cave,  where  awful,  sad,  and  solemn  silence  shall 
forever  reign — in  which  his  hopes  will  be  forever  extin- 
guished— his  plans  and  expectations  irremediably  frus- 
trated— his  affections  obliterated — his  enjoyments  ter- 
minated— and,  (if  the  idea  of  reanimation  ever  darts 
across  his  mind)  as  an  incarcerating  dungeon,  in  which 
he  must  remain,  till  summoned  to  the  bar  of  Omnipo- 
tence, to  receive  the  sentence  of  condemnation  for  his 
inattention  to  the  calls  of  the  Gospel,  his  rejection  of 
its  offered  means  of  grace  and  salvation,  his  neglect  or 
abuse  of  that  invaluable  talent  time.  While  the  Chris- 
tian,  soothed  and  animated  bv  the  assurances  of  the 


1^ 

Gospel,  and  confiding  in  the  promises  oi  his  Saviour 
and  his  God,  looks  forward  to  the  grave,  through  the 
luminous  channel  of  Divine  Revelation,  as  a  friendly 
and  blessed  asylum  from  tlic  storms  of  his  probationa- 
ry state — as  the  vestibule  of  eternity — the  gate  of  ad- 
mission into  the  Paradise  of  God. 

Like  the  cloudy  pillar  which  was  constantly  before 
the  Israelites  of  old,  to  guide  them  on  their  way  through 
the  wilderness  to  the  promised  Land,  it  is  **  cloud  and 
thick  darkness"*  to  the  Worldling,  as  that  was  to  the 
Egyptians — but  it  illuminates,  with  the  mild  radiance 
of  celestial  light,  the  path  of  the  ChristiSn  Pilgrim,  as 
that  also  did,  under  the  appearance  of  fire,  the  pathway 
of  the  chosen  people  of  God. 

The  suspension  of  the  vital  functions  of  the  body, 
and  the  dissolution  of  its  particles — the  darkness  and  si- 
lence of  the  tomb — have  induced  writers  of  every  de- 
scription, poets,  theologians,  sentimentalists,  and  histo- 
rians, nay,  the  sacred  writers  themselves,  to  character- 
ize the  intermediate  state,  between  the  extinction  of  hu- 
man life  and  the  resurrection  or  resuscitation  of  the  bo- 
dy, as  **the  night  of  death" — "the  iron  slumber  of 
the  grave."  And  diat,  from  the  similarity  of  death  to 
natural  sleep:  which  indeed,  some  metaphysical  specu- 
latists  have  carried  so  far,  as  to  involve  in  that  state  of 
unconsciousness  the  soul  also,  that  vital,  inextinguisha- 
ble spirit,  by  which  die  body  was  animated.  Thus  ad- 
vocating the  monstrous  doctrine  of  Materialism,  in  di- 
rect opposition  to  the  positive  declarations  of  Holy 
Writ,|the  dictates  of  sound  reason,  and  die  belief  of  the 
wisest  and  best  men  in  every  age  of  the  world.     We 

•  Kx.  xiv.  JO. 


13 

have  ample  authority  for  asserting,  that  the  soul  never 
loses  its  activity  and  consciousness  of  identity:  of  which, 
among  many  other  passages,  the  parable  of  the  rich 
man  and  Lazarus,*  and  Christ's  assurance  to  the  thief 
upon  the  cross — "  To-day  thou  shalt  be  with  me  in 
Paradise^t  are  conspicuously  corroborative.  The  doc- 
trine of  our  Church  is,  that  the  soul,  immediately  after 
its  separation  from  the  body,  the  state  of  trial  being 
then  over,  enters  upon  a  degree  of  that  reward  or  pu- 
nishment which  its  conduct  while  in  the  body  hath 
merited,  the  fulness  of  which  will^iot  be  experienced, 
till  after  the  judgment  of  the  last  great  day. 

The  body  indeed  becomes  inanimate,  and  appears, 
when  deposited  in  the  earth,  to  mingle  with  its  kindred 
dust,  reposing  in  the  solemn  silence  of  the  sepulchre, 
and  enjoying  "  the  sad  immunities  of  the  grave," J  that 
'^  last  sure  refuge  from  the  storms  of  fate"§ — *'  where 
the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at 
rest.  "II  But  it  is  not  the  everlasting  rest  oi  annihila- 
tion— it  is  not  an  eternal  sleep — it  is  not  the  extinction 
of  existence — it  is  only  the  dissolution  of  the  earth- 
ly tabernacle — it  is  the  bed  of  earth  in  which  "  man  lieth 
down  and  riseth  not  till  the  heavens  are  no  more. "If  For, 
an  hour  is  rapidly  approaching,  when  an  archangel,  set- 
ting his  right  foot  on  the  earth,  and  his  left  foot  on  the 
sea,  and  stretching  forth  his  mighty  arm,  commission- 
ed by  him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever,  shall  proclaim 
that  "  time  shall  be  no  longer"** — then  shall  the  dead 
be  "  ransomed  from  the  power  of  the  grave,  they  shall 
be  redeemed  from  death."tt     Then  shall  "  the  dead, 

*  Lukexvi.  19.  f  Luke  xxiii.  43.  \  Burke.  §  Gray.  ||Job.  iii.  17 
^  Job.  xiv.  12.    **  Rev.  x.  6.         ft  Hos.  xiii.  1 4. 


14 

small  and  great  stand  before  God,  and  shall  be  judged 
out  of  those  things  which  are  written  in  the  books," 
(the  awful  register  of  Heaven!)  '*  according  to  their 
works,  and  the  sea  shall  give  up  the  dead  who  are  in 
it,  and  death  and  the  grave  shall  deliver  up  the  dead 
who  iu^e  in  them."* 

"Great  day  of  dread, decision,  and  despair, 

"  Where,  ihcn^  for  shelter  shall  the  guiltij  fly, 

"  When  consterndtion  turns  the  good  man  pale?" — X.  T.  1).  0. 

Yet,  though  we  arc  taught,  that  the  soul  continues  to 
exist  after  its  separation  from  the  body,  we  have  not 
the  smallest  ground  to  suppose,  eidier  from  reason  or 
revelation,  that  in  this  intermediate  state  there  can  be 
any  such  repentance  for  former  error,  either  in  senti- 
ment or  in  conduct — or  any  work  or  device  practicable, 
by  which  the  just  punishment  of  that  error  may  be 
mitigated  or  remitted.  We  are  expressly  told  that  no 
such  operation  can  take  place;  that  **  the  night  of  death 
Cometh  in  which  no  man  can  work"t  ^^^^  **  there  is  no 
work,  nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  in  the 
grave,  whither  we  are  going"!  that  "  the  dust  (or  body) 
shall  return  to  the  earth,  as  it  was,  and  the  spirit  shall 
retuni  to  God  who  gave  it"} — that  *'  the  hour  is  coming 
in  which  all  who  are  in  their  graves  shall  hear  the  voice 
of  the  Son  of  God,  and  shall  come  forth;  they  who  have 
done  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  eternal  life,  and  they 
who  have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  dam- 
nation."||  In  short,  the  general  tenor  of  Scripture  teach- 
es us,  that  as  death  leaves  us  judgment  will  find  us 

*    Rev.  XX.  12.  t   John  ix.  4.  \    Eccl.  ix.  10. 

§  Eccl.  xii.  7.  }}  Jbhn  v.  29. 


15- 

I  conclude,  therefore,  brethren,  in  the  words  of 
an  holy  Apostle,  **  Beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look  for 
such  things,  be  diligent,  that  ye  may  be  found  of  him 
in  peace,  without  spot  and  blameless."* 

Seeing  that  each  of  us  is  possessed  of  an  immor- 
tal soul,  that  must  be  infinitely  happy  or  miserable 
hereafter,  according  to  our  conduct  in  the  present 
state — seeing  also  that  we  are  blessed  with  the  marvel- 
lous light  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  means  which  it  offers 
to  enable  us  to  secure  perfect  and  eternal  felicity — 
surely  the  salvation  of  our  souls  is  the  grandest  and 
most  important  object  that  can  possibly  engage  our 
attention — surely  it  is  "the  one  thing  needful. "f  But, 
the  soul  cannot  obtain  this  salvation,  if  it  depart  from 
the  body  polluted  by  sin — if,  defiled  by  the  indulgence 
of  depraved  passions,  and  enfeebled  by  the  paralyzing 
influence  of  worldly  objects  and  affections,  it  be  render- 
ed incapable  of  enjoying  the  happiness  of  Heaven.  For, 
the  preparation  for  that  enjoyment  must  be  effected  on 
earthy  its  probationary  state.  If  not  purified  by  peni- 
tence and  sanctified  by  prayer — if  not  refined  by  an 
habitual  obedience  to  the  precepts  of  true  Religion,  and 
sublimed  by  the  holy  fervour  of  devotional  exercises — 
it  can,  in  no  degree,  be  qualified  to  associate  with,  and 
assimilate  itself  to,  those  pure  and  perfect  intelligencies 
which  surround  the  throne  of  God,  and  fill  the  celestial 
mansions  with  unceasing  strains  of  seraphic  adoration, 
with  fervent  effusions  of  gratitude  and  love,  and  with 
responsive  Hallelujahs  of  exultation  and  of  praise. 

O!  then,  brethren,  awake  to  righteousness;  for, 

*Pet.  iii.  14,  +  Liikex.  42. 


16 

'*  Time  flics — DcaUi  urges — knells  call — Hcav'n  invites, 
Hell  threatensl"— N.  T.  b.  2. 

And  if,  awful  supposition!  we  live  *'  without  God  in  the 
world, "t  when  Death,  the  resistless  Conqueror  of  the 
human  race,  arresting  each  of  us  as  his  victim,  shall 
with  one  hand  dash  in  pieces  the  glittering  bubbles,  and 
dissipate  the  airy  visions,  which  fascinated  and  enchain- 
ed our  attention — and  with  the  other,  draw  up  the  im- 
penetrable  veil  which  separates  us  from  the  world  of 
spirits,  exhibiting  to  our  astonished  view  the  stupen- 
dous realities  of  eternity — when  we  shall  behold  that 
omnipotent  Jehovah  whose  commandments  we  had  vio- 
lated, or  whose  worship  we  had  neglected — that  Jesus 
whose  mediation  we  hajl  rejected,  whose  invitations  we 
had  disregarded,  whose  intercession  we  had  never  soli- 
cited— that  Holy  Ghost,  whose  impulses  we  had  resist- 
ed, whose  dictates  we  had  silenced,  and  whose  sanctifi- 
cation  we  had  not  desired — those  myriads  of  Angels  and 
Archangels — those  holy  Apostles,  Prophets,  Patriarchs, 
and  Martyrs — those  spirits  of  the  Just  made  perfect — 
with  all  the  happy  company  of  heaven — how  bitter,  how 
agonizing  will  the  reflection  then  be  upon  our  mispent, 
murdered  time,  which  will  not  only  then  occasion  our 
exclusion  from  those  blest  abodes,  but  our  banishment 
to  those  doleful  regions  of  misery  and  despair,  where 
the  worm  of  reproaching  conscience  dieth  not,  and  the 
fire  of  divine  vengeance,  upon  wilful  disobedience,  and 
obstinate  ingratitude,  is  not  quenched! 

Be  wise,  therefore,  in  time — consider  your  latter 
end — consider  how  much  is  to  be  done,  and  how  little 
of  life,  how  small  a  renniant  of  your  stew  ardship,  may 
be  remaining  to  accomplish  it  in — and   instantly  and 

t  Kph.  ii.  I'J 


17 

earnestly  endeavour  to  give  your  heart  to  God,  and 
henceforth,  ''  so  to  pass  through  things  temporal,  that 
you  finally  lose  not  the  things  eternal. "f 

These  sentiments  on  the  value  and  consequent  ne- 
cessary improvement  of  time,  are  now  suggested  to  you, 
in  compliance  with  the  request  of  a  departed  brother, 
who  is  gone  to  his  great  account,  and  who  was  fre- 
quently a  fellow  worshipper  with  you  in  this  Holy 
Temple.  The  person  I  allude  to  is  Dr.  Anthony  Fo- 
thergill,  a  native  of  Westmoreland  in  England,  who, 
for  several  years,  resided  in  the  United  States,  and  for 
the  ^piost  part  in  this  city;  and  who,  by  his  attachment 
to  the  interests  of  science  and  of  literature,  as  well  as  by 
the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  and  the , correctness  of  his 
deportment  here,  acquired  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
^hose  with  whom  he  familiarly  associated,  many  of 
whom  were  our  most  distinguished  citizens.  He  was  a 
regular  attendant  upon  the  service  of  our  Church,  and 
a  partaker  of  her  most  solemn  ordinance,  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper.  His  high  sense  of  the  res- 
ponsibility of  man,  and  of  the  consequent  importance 
of  religion  to  prepare  him  for  the  participation  of  eter- 
nal happiness,  cannot,  I  think,  be  more  forcibly  expres- 
sed  than  it  has  beqn  by  himself,  in  part  of  the  inscrip- 
tion which  he  directed  to  be  engraved  on  his  own  mo- 
nument. 

"  Reader,  here  make  a  solemn  pause!  Remember, 
thou  art  ever  in  the  awful  presence  of  thy  Creator!  who 
knows  all  thy  actions  and  inmost  thoughts,  which  are 
all  recorded;  and  for  which  thou  must  one  day  give 
an  account.  **  He  that  formed  the  eye,  shall  he  not 
see?  and  he  tliat  formed  the  ear,  shall  he  not  hear?"{ 


18 

"  Remember,  that  on  the  present  day  hangs  eterni- 
ty, to  which  thou  art  hastening! 

"  Resolve,  therefore,  instantly,  to  devote  thyself  to 
Virtue,  Religion,  and  Piety,  which  alone  can  give  thee 
peace  here,  and  everlasting  happiness  hereafter. 

*'  In  short — resolve  to  preserve  a  clear  conscience; 
and  be  not  almost  but  altogether  a  Christian." 

Such  arc  the  strong  indications  of  the  correctness 
of  his  religious  character.  As  a  citizen  and  a  man, 
his  uniform  exertions  to  contribute  to  the  instruction 
and  consequent  benefit  of  society  are  evinced  by  seve- 
ral useful  and  scientific  publications  in  his  own  coun- 
try, and  by  some  valuable  communications  to  literary 
societies  and  individuals  in  this — in  both  of  which  he 
was  acknowledged  to  possess  considerable  professional 
skill.  His  philanthropy,  and  the  ardour  and  sincerity  of 
his  individual  attachments,  are  amply  expressed  by  his 
liberal  bequests  to  public  institutions,  and  to  his  friends 
and  acquaintance,  as  well  as  to  his  relatives — his  sci- 
entific investigations  and  communications  almost  uni- 
versally tending  to  the  relief  of  human  misery — the  al- 
leviation of  many  of  those  various  ills  that  flesh  is 
heir  to:  and,  the  same  spirit  of  benevolence  and  dis- 
interested charity  dictating  his  munificent  donations,  by 
will  to  the  numerous  institutions  and  associations  esta- 
blished for  the  comfort,  the  relief,  and  the  support  of 
the  wretched — the  poor,  the  helpless,  the  accidentally 
unfortunate,  and  the  diseased.* 

"  Dr.  Fothcrt^ill's  incdiral  and  philosopliical  «  oinm\inir:it.ions 
to  the  several  literary  and  benevolent  societies  of  wliich  he  was  a 
member,  arc  mentioned  in  the  highest  terms  of  approbation  and 
recorded  in  their  transactions.    He  obtained  a  gold  prize  medal 


19 

When  such  men  are  removed  by  death,  it  is  a  duty 
to  society,  as  well  as  to  the  deceased,  to  record  their 
merits:  the  mildness,  however,  and  modesty  of  our  de- 
parted brother's  disposition  was  such,  as  to  induce  your 
preacher  to  believe,  that  it  was  by  no  means  his  desire 
that  an  elaborate  eulogium  should  be  pronounced  on 
him,  but  only  that  the  occasion  of  his  death  shouki  be 
rendered  instrumental  to  the  suggestion  of  some  moral 
and  religious  reflections,  "  on  the  importance  and  im- 
provement of  time,"  resulting  from  the  elucidation  of 
the  words  of  our  text.  I  shall,  therefore,  not  enlarge  the 
present  brief  sketch,  but  conclude,  by  earnestly  recom- 
mending his  virtues  to  your  imitation. 

Now  to  God,  &c. 

from  the  Royal  Humane  Society  of  London,  for  "  A  Plan  for  the 
preservation  of  petsons  exposed  to  those  accidents  which  sudden- 
ly suspend  or  extinguish  vital  action.**  He  also  received  prizes 
for  other  essays  communicated  to  the  Bath  and  West  of  England 
Society,  and  the  London  Board  of  Agriculture — and  he  left,  in  ma- 
nuscript, twelve  volumes,  folio,  entitled  Adversaria,  Medica  et 
Philosophica — the  result  of  much  reading  and  research.  j 

He  was  one  of  the  governors  for  life,  and  a  director  of  the  Roy-  / 
al  Humane  Society;  a  member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physiciansi 
and  of  the  Medical  Societies  of  London,  Edinburgh,  and   Parisj 
and  also  of  the  Philosophical  Societies  of  Manchester,  Bath,  P' 
ladelphia,  &c.  . 

He  returned  to  England  in  September,  1812;  and  <^^^  ^ 
George's  Place,  Black  Friar's  Road,  in  the  county  '  ^'^^' 
)  Ith  May,  1813,  aged  eighty-six  years. 


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